What seemed only moments later, Ralston awoke her to give her a bannock, some roasted rabbit and a cup of fresh, cold water. She must have been asleep for an hour or more without even realizing it, if they'd had time to hunt rabbits and roast them for supper.
Ralston seemed a good man, and she trusted him to protect her while she slept. She liked the fact that she reminded him of his sister, but she was sad that he'd lost her. Mayhap she could be his new sister. She'd always wanted an older brother and had thought she might feel safer if she had one.
Her older sister was near as tough as a man… at least, emotionally she was. Physically, of course, she was petite and had been no match for Blackburn when he'd shoved her down two years prior and caused her to have a miscarriage. He'd wished to kill the former chief's heir before he could be born. The bairn, though, had been a wee lass. No doubt Anna still grieved the terrible loss. How she wished she could be with her sister and embrace her. Tears pricked her eyes and tightened her throat, making it difficult to swallow the food. She wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "You must grow tough, Kristina," she whispered.
After eating, she became drowsy, lay down amid the blankets and dropped back to sleep. Her bizarre dreams about riding a horse endlessly turned to nightmares, and suddenly her mother appeared before her in a swirl of golden light.
Kristina!Her mother yelled within the dream, her tone alarmed.
Heart pounding, Kristina startled awake to find someone crawling into the tent."Who are you?"
When no answer came, she sniffed the air and detected Holme's body odor. Panic near stole her breath, but she managed to scream, searching the blanket beside her for the rock she'd dropped during her sleep.
"Be quiet," he growled low, then plastered his disgusting mouth to hers, his beard scratching her face.
Her fingers touched the rock and she clasped it in her palm. She slammed it against his head, then kicked and shoved at him, managing to get out another brief yell for help.
"Ow, you little bitch," he seethed.
"What's going on?" That sounded like Ralston.
"Help!"
"You bastard!" Ralston yelled.
Holme was dragged off her, and he finally let go. The sounds of fists pounding against flesh followed, along with scuffling, growls and curses.
Dear lord, she hoped Holme didn't kill Ralston. He was the only kind man in this group of ruffians.
"Halt!" Blackburn commanded somewhere outside the tent. "Cease your fighting! Or you'll both be finding yourselves dangling from yon tree!"
Holme continued his curses and threats against Ralston.
"Stand down, Holme," Blackburn ordered. "And stay away from the lass until I have my wife back. After that, I don't care what you do to her." Footsteps tromped closer. "Kristina?"
If she pretended injury, would Blackburn treat her better and keep that beast away from her? She lay silent and still as if passed out.
"Bring a lantern." Blackburn opened the tent flap. "If you've killed her, Holme, I'll string you up by the neck! She's the only leverage I have."
"I didn't kill her."
Soon, a lantern rattled nearby and she smelled the burning fat of the tallow candle. The heat of it warmed her skin.
"Kristina?" Blackburn shoved roughly at her shoulder.
She frowned, pretending to awaken, pressed a hand to her head and moaned.
"Are you awake?"
"Aye," she mumbled.
"I think you'll survive." Blackburn left the tent. Outside, he said, "Holme, you ken what a frail lass she is. You could easily kill her. Be patient until we reach Bearach. In the meantime, I'm assigning Ralston to keep her alive."
Thank the saints.
Where was this Bearach he spoke of? She'd never heard of it. Although Blackburn was a knave, at least he would keep Holme away from her until they reached Anna. Still, she didn't want to be the bait that lured Anna from her safe hiding place—at least, she hoped Anna was safe.
***
